Page 121 of The Crown’s Temptation

I unlaced the top of my leather dress, relieved that the corset was front facing tonight. I closed my eyes and said “Hurry up, then.”

I heard him chuckle and lean over. He placed it on the center of my chest. It felt cold and metal. “Are you with me?”

“Yes, because you haven’t done anything⁠—”

A jolt of harsh, electric pain rushed through me before I could finish my sentence. I heard him say my name, his voice sounding worried. Then everything went dark.

When I opened my eyes, I was still in the chair, this time with a blanket over me.

“How long did I sleep?” I said immediately.

Colsar. I still needed to find him tonight.

“About an hour,” Eravic said calmly. He handed me a glass of water. “Does anything hurt?”

I stared down at my chest. “No, just a small ache from when you shoved it into my chest.”

He rolled his eyes. “I did not shove it. I gently placed it on top of your chest and the magic did the rest.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “Lies. You most certainly shoved it in there.” I raised a hand before he could speak. Then I stretched my arms and legs, staring down at them. “Luckily for you, I feel better than I ever have since dying,” I said.

It was true. I felt lighter. Energetic. Almost like myself before all of this. I looked at the loosened front ties of my dress and began to tie them. It was not cold in here at all. He had likely placed the blanket over me to cover up my very-exposed cleavage.

A gentleman, most certainly.

I sat up. “Am I supposed to feel this lovely? I feel incredible.”

“Aye,” Eravic said. “The healer told me you will feel better in the night time, but in the day you’ll likely feel tired, and you may find that the cough returns or even worsens.”

I nodded, unbothered by the daytime consequences. There was not much to do in this sordid kingdom anyway. Sleep was probably the most interesting daytime activity available.

I looked around the room. “So you stayed here the whole time, watching me sleep?”

“You drool quite a bit, so it was more entertaining that you’d imagine.”

Without intending to, I immediately rubbed my face. It was dry.

I narrowed my eyes. “More proof that you can lie, Lord Vaelor.”

He laughed. “Drool dries, you know.”

I glanced at the pile of coins on the table, picked one up, and threw it at him.

He ducked.

"Your aim is as terrible as your gambling."

"You know, one time I gambled with Sevrin, and he found my gambling skills impressive."

"Did he now?"

"Not really. Maybe." I frowned. "In truth, I forgot to ask."

A laugh escaped him.

"That isn't the point," I insisted. "The point is that I'm an excellent gambler and now that I have this Arrolyn I bet my skills have only improved, despite the fact that I am likely still slightly drunk on antidote poison.”

He blinked.